whipple



(No Model.;

E. E. WHIPPLE.

l HARROW.

Patented Oct. 18,1881.

QNQEM I WTNEEEES- Y NITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

EFFINGER E. VVHIPPLE, OF EATON RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO HANNAH M. WHIPPLE, OF SAME PLAGE.

H'ARRow.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 248,373, dated October 18, 1881.

Application filed September 28, 188i). (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that l, EEEINGER E. WHIPPLE, of Eaton Rapids, in the county of Eaton and State of Michigan, have invented certain new` and useful Improvements in Harrows and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof', reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specication.

This invention relates to spring-tooth harrows; and it consists in the several novel devices and combinations of devices setforth, and pointed out in the accompanying claims.

In the drawings, Figure lis a top view of my improved barrow. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of one of the spring-tooth beams with its teeth in place thereon, and showing the attachment of said tooth-beam with the main frame. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of a single tooth-beam and a pair of teeth secured thereto; and Fig. 4 is a side elevation of one of the shoes by which the main frame is herein shown to be supported from the ground.

A A is the main frame, consisting of two sections or parts centrally' hin ged to each other through the medium, as here shown, of the center beam, A.

S S are shoes, which sustain the frameA at any desired distance above the ground-surface, beingfor this purpose adjustably attached to the frame, as will be hereinafter explained.

B B B are a number of tooth-beams, about sixteen inches long, connected at their forward ends with the transverse beams of the frame A, each by means of the U-shaped connectingspring C, as more clearly seen in Fig. 2.

D D are the barrow-teeth, secured to the toothbeams B. Each of said teeth D consists of a flat strip of steel, say one and threefourths inch by one-fourth of an inch in sectional measurement, and about sixteen inches long before being bent to shape. Two teeth are attached rigidly to each tooth-beam near its rear end, preferably one a little in advance of the other. Both are curved downward and forward, as seen in Fig. 2. They are also curved outward, one to the right and the other to the left. In giving to the teeth the curve described they are also twisted so that the inner edge, c, of each tooth is in advance of the outer edge. This inner advanced edge, c, is also sharpened or made thin. Each tooth thus constitutes a peculiarly-shaped knife, reaching in an oblique curve downward and forward beneath the ground surface, and adapted, therefore, to cut or sever the weeds it may encounterin the strip of earth traversed thereby and bring the same to thesurface. In the arrangementoftwo teeth on asingle beam, turned in o'ppositedirections, as described, each steadies the other and prevents it from heilig turned aside from its work. At the same time, by reason of their attachment to the free end of the tooth-beams, drawn from a yielding connection with its forward end, any serious obstacle striking either tooth may swing the tooth-beam upward to free the tooth, and theinequality or irregularity of resistance met by the teeth may give a general vibrating action or trembling motion to the teeth, whereby they become more effective in pulverizing the earth.

An important advantage of the oblique or laterally-inclined direction of the tooth herein shown Vand described is found in the fact that a few teeth, each narrow, and therefore meeting little resistance in the ground, serve to agitate a surface which in other forms of harrow requires a large number of teeth and a much greater expenditure of power.

The sectional frame or frames A A preferably have their transverse beams a and b inclined backward from their central hinged connection, as shown. Tooth-beamsB are connected with both the forward frame beams, a, and the rear beams, b, and are arranged alternately, as seen in Fig. 1, for the same reason that other forms of teeth have been similarly arranged heretofore.

The connections C C are U-shaped straps of steel, two and one-fourth by one-fourth sectional dimensions, or of other size suitable to hold the teeth steadily to their work, yet allowing the latter to yield vertically when obstacles are encountered thereby. One end of the metal strap is secured to the `beam c and the other to the tooth-beam B, preferablyin the relation indicated in Fig. 2-that is to say, with the main frame above or higher than the toothbeams. By providing in the strap C supernunierary holes d d to receive the boltse e', one or both, the rigidity of the spring-connection in operation may be varied at will, being, of course, stiened as it is shortened, and vice versa. The frame A A is of ordinary weight, the teeth, by their shape, being adapted to draw suiciently into the ground. For the purpose of more definitely regulating the depth to which the teeth enter the ground, however, I employ shoes S S, made preferably of plate metal, say four inches broad and two feet long, and turned up at the forward end. One is shown as being applied to the center beam, A', and others to the outer frame-beams, a a. These shoes are provided with standards T, two on each side of the frame-beam, as seen in Fig. 1, and opposite those of the other side. Through these standards a series of holes, h, are made to receive the bolts t, which also pass through the frame-beam.

By means of the series of holes in the stainlards described the frame may be lifted to any desired height above the ground, thereby posi tivelyregnlating the depth ot' penetration of the teeth D. Of course, slots in the standards 'l may serve the same purpose as the holes h.

l am aware that various forms ot' curved teeth have been employed in harrows; but none within my knowledge possess the peculiar feature of a cutting-edge laterally, or laterally and forwardly,incliued beneat h thegrouud-snrface, whereby weeds may be cut or severed, as herein described. 1t is plain that this feature and e'ect may be obtained in other forms of teeth than that herein shown, wherefore I do not wish to be understood as being limited to said special form indicated and described.

Having thus described my invention, I-

claim- 1. The combination, with the barrow-frame,

of the tooth-beam B, secured at its front end to the said frame by an elastic connection, and provided with the oppositely curved and twisted teeth D D, as set forth. i

2. The combination ofthe frame, the frame' supports, and two or more tooth-beams, B, severally secured at their front ends by elastic connections to the frame, and each provided with oppositely curved and twisted teeth D D, substantially as described.

3. The combiuation,with the transverse parts of the frame, of the tooth-beam B, secured at its front end to the said frame by an elastic connection, and provided with the oppositely curved and twisted elastic teeth D D, as set forth.

4. The combination of the frame, the framesupports, and two or more tooth-beams, B, severally secured at their front ends by elastic connections to the frame, and each provided with oppositely curved and twisted elastic teeth D D, substantially as described.

5. A harrow-fra me constructed in two parts, A A, each jointed to a central bar, A', andindependently supported bysldes S, combined with the tooth-bea|n B B, attached tothe front and rear bars, a b, in alternate lines, respectively, by means ot adjust-able spring-connections C, as set forth.

6. In combination withthe tnain frame and the tooth-beam B ot' the barrow described, the spring C, applied to connect the two parts named, and adjustable at each end as to the frame and tooth-beam, respectively, whereby its rigidity may be varied, substantially as described.

ln testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I atlix my signature in presence ot' two witnesses.

EFFINGER E. WHIPPLE.

Vitnesses: Y

F. C. CASE,

E. DAYTON. 

